In a significant development stemming from a harrowing incident, two brothers, identified as prominent members of Houston’s notorious Free Money gang, have been handed a federal indictment for their alleged roles in a deadly parking lot ambush that claimed one life and injured another.
The chilling events unfolded in June 2022, when a Houston shopping center parking lot became the scene of a broad daylight shooting. Prosecutors allege that the brothers unleashed a volley of gunfire, resulting in the tragic death of Shaquille Lewis and leaving a second individual wounded, marking a brutal escalation in local Houston crime.
The accused, Terry Ardoin, 24, and Travonte Ardoin, 27, are now facing severe federal murder and attempted murder charges. Both siblings are deeply entrenched within the violent Free Money gang, an organized criminal enterprise known for its widespread activities across Southeast Houston.
Authorities detail the Free Money gang’s extensive illicit operations, which reportedly include sophisticated drug trafficking, aggressive robberies, and brazen home invasions. These acts of gang violence are often carried out to assert dominance, protect territorial interests, and instill fear among rival factions.
Furthermore, prosecutors highlight the gang’s strategic use of modern communication channels, including social media platforms, alongside coded language and intimidation tactics. These methods are allegedly employed to bolster their influence and “earn respect” within the criminal underworld through calculated acts of gang violence.
According to the meticulously compiled federal indictment, on June 24, 2022, the Ardoin brothers are accused of tailing a Chevrolet Equinox into a shopping center lot. Exiting their black Nissan Altima while masked, they reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, executing Lewis and attempting to kill the other victim. Witnesses reported the unmistakable sound of a fully automatic weapon, possibly modified with an illegal “switch,” echoing the severity of the murder charges.
Following the ambush, Travonte Ardoin later sought hospital treatment for a gunshot wound to his leg, where he is accused of providing false information to law enforcement, claiming to be a drive-by shooting victim. However, investigators successfully connected the brothers to the crime scene through compelling video footage and hospital surveillance, reinforcing the allegations outlined in the federal indictment.
The gravity of the charges against the Ardoin brothers is immense; they face counts of murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and causing death through the use of a firearm. If convicted of these heinous acts of gang violence, they could face the ultimate penalties of life imprisonment or even the death penalty, underscoring the severe legal consequences for their alleged Houston crime.
